Deer Lodge

location is good

We had a wonderful stay in a heritage room, which had everything we wanted with a lovely balcony and view. Bed was so wide and comfy, the shower was great and it was perfectly clean with toiletries refreshed everyday. Location is excellent with plenty of free parking, a short stroll to lake Louise where you can also get the Parks Canada bus to Moraine (you need to show hotel confirmation at the hut). Breakfast was nice however the staff were slow replacing items especially coffee when it run out and you had to wait a while for them to bring new ones out. Cons: The only thing missing from our room was a fridge but we kept drinks out on the balcony. Waited about an hour for cases to be taken to our room and we had to go down to reception twice to check their whereabouts! Take your own upstairs! Hot tub wasn't working but was informed in advance. The price was high but most the hotels in the area are expensive!

The Deer Lodge is operated by CRMR (Canadian Rocky Mtn Resorts)--a chain of similar properties in the Rockies--rustic, high end and spectacular settings. However, CRMR corporately struggles to keep up with the expectations and standards that befit a heritage lodge with history and $500/night room stays. My family and I booked just one night in the midst of larch madness. The positives we experienced were: even with a high price, the convenience of being in a parking space for two days and having a delicious buffet breakfast included for hearty hiking in the heart of Lake Louise was great. The downsides however, come down to service and commitment to matching guests with the rooms they asked for. We requested a quiet room, away from hustle and bustle so we could get a good night's rest for the big hikes the next day. In spite of a simple request, we were put in a room right by the housekeeping area---with the back and forth footsteps of hotel staff fullfilling requests pattering about enough to keep you awake. There's also no such thing as a coffee-maker and an ages old hot water heater with no temperature control. The room is historic, but not small enough that these things couldn't be included or considered. So, I think for the pricepoint of this hotel, these are easy things that should have happened. I've slept better in a Best western. When I mentioned these issues the next morning to the front desk, my experience was the same as the previous review: contact CRMR head office! So we've done that----we had mildly more success by getting a real email reply, but one that was built on generic messaging and never answered our actual question (could we please do something to make this right?). That question is still lingering in CRMR emails for a reply which will likely never come. And last but not least--there's ambiance. The Deer Lodge is nearly 100yrs old and evokes a time when mountain guides took people up and down the mountain trails of Lake Louise. There are plenty of historic photos to see, which is nice but there's no heritage info on site. No books to read, no mountain lore to explore and how about a fire in that fireplace that looks so sad without one in the crisp of the autumn. A lodge like this deserves the best of experiences and service that respects both that heritage and customers willing to pay the demanding peak season price point. I think the only chance for Deer Lodge is for CRMR to do a deep dive review and ask themselves---why is such a potentially premiere property underperforming so wildly with visitor experience? I hope other visitors get a better experience than we had.

I was charged by the hotel for in-room food services I never requested. Upon noticing the mistake, I reached out to the front desk, but the staff there was impatient and directed me to email their corporate office. I followed their advice and sent an email but never received a response.

Very close to Lake Louise shore. Typical accommodation at National park. Do not expect TV or internet. Breakfast was good.

They have maintained the rustic charm and elegance of this 100 year old hotel beautifully! The location with an easy paved walk to Lake Louise and a quick drive down to the city were fantastic! The free breakfast was a full buffet of hot and cold items. Excellent service. Will definitely stay here again! I do not think they will be fixing the hot tub though so don’t count on it! We waited 6.5 months and they weren’t even working on it!

The hotel and grounds are beautiful. I appreciated the history, architecture and finishes of the building. The room and bath were on the smaller side, similar to hotels in Europe, but roomy and comfortable enough for two friends traveling together. Our twin room was quiet and had a nice view. Breakfast was very nice buffet, and we enjoyed the lounge in the evening. The location can’t be beat. A short walk to the lake and hiking trails. I look forward to another, longer stay.

I really hated how the front desk staff just “stare” at me when we arrived the hotel. Not even a greeting or smile… there’s more to mention about this specific staff but makes me more upset writing more. just have better training on the staff PLEASE…

Great location for Lake Louise. Hotel is old and does show in places, but nowhere near as bad as trip advisor reviews. We had a heritage room, this was clean and warm with 2 large beds, coffee machine and powerful shower. Brilliant breakfast the best on our trip so far, however the breakfast room needs a clean, the dust on the balustrades was awful. Staff were very helpful. No lifts in the hotel, no TV or Aircon

See above.